For UK Healthcare Professionals

The patient friendly formulation

Although emollients are designed to protect and care for sore skin, some contain ingredients that can cause or exacerbate skin problems.

Sensitisers can produce allergic reactions which may be either immediate or delayed. Common sensitisers include:

Lanolin: a derivative of wool fat
Parabens: a class of commonly used preservatives, consisting of the methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl esters of hydroxybenzoic acid, also known as hydroxybenzoates

Irritants have a direct effect on the skin, the severity of which depends on the intensity and length of exposure. Common irritants include:

Synthetic or floral perfumes (some of which may also be sensitisers)
Surfactants, such as sodium lauryl sulphate, which are often used as emulsifying agents

Diprobase is free from common sensitisers and irritants^1,2,3

Product	Common sensitisers or irritants			Other potential sensitisers or irritants
Product	Lanolin	Parabens	Sodium lauryl sulphate	Other potential sensitisers or irritants
DiproBase Cream¹				Cetostearyl alcohol & chlorocresol
Aqueous cream BP^6,7				Cetostearyl alcohol & phenoxyethanol
E45 Cream^6,7				Cetyl alcohol
Cetraben Emollient Cream^7,11				Cetostearyl alcohol & phenoxyethanol
Doublebase Gel¹²				Isopropyl myristate & phenoxyethanol & triethanolamine
Epaderm Cream^7,8				Cetostearyl alcohol & chlorocresol

Product	Common sensitisers or irritants			Other potential sensitisers or irritants
Product	Lanolin	Parabens	Sodium lauryl sulphate	Other potential sensitisers or irritants
DiproBase Ointment²
Epaderm^7,10				Cetostearyl alcohol
Hydromol ointment^6,7				Cetostearyl alcohol

*Different proprietary preparations may contain other preservatives